"Scarborough Fair / Canticle"

An old English ballad, adapted by Paul Simon
in 1966 with a song he had written about war,
and sung in counterpoint with Art Garfunkel.

The original ballad is about two parted lovers
having impossible (in the natural) requirements
of the other, when it comes to genuine love, as
the Jews (Jesus/Holy Spirit) might say "easier
for an elephant to go through a needle's eye".


Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seams nor needle work
Then she'll be a true love of mine

On the side of a hill in the deep forest green
Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested brown
Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call

Tell her (him) to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strands
Then she'll (he'll) be a true love of mine

On the side of a hill in the sprinkling of leaves
Washes the grave with silvery tears
A soldier cleans and polishes a gun

Tell her (him) to reap it with a sickle of leather
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
And gather it all in a bunch of heather
Then she'll (he'll) be a true love of mine

War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions
Generals order their soldiers to kill
And to fight for a cause they have long ago forgotten

Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine